Curtain stretcher



July 24, 1934.

J. M. GLADISH CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed Nov. 25, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 John M a/adlsh' gmwm Patented July 24, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to household curtain stretchers and more especially to a curtain stretcher adapted-to cooperate with a conven tional window frame whereby the curtains can be stretched to conform to the outlines of the window, in other words, tailored to fit the window.

An object of thisinvention is to provide detachable means adapted to be associated with the upper and lower portions of a window frame whereby curtains may be stretched over the window and held in stretched position until the curtains dry, thus causing the curtains to conform to the shape of the window.

Another objectof this invention is to provide means whereby a plurality of curtains may be stretched simultaneously and stretching means being detachably mounted on the upper and lower portions of a window frame and being adjustable at each corner of the window frame whereby the curtains maybe stretched in any desired shape as each corner of the curtains may be adjusted separately from the other corner whereby the desired outline of the curtains may be caused to conform to the windows with which they are adapted to be'used.

Another object of this invention is to provide means adapted to be associated with any suitable frame such as a window frame whereby the upper and lower ends of a plurality of curtains may be supported to stretch the same, said meansbeing separately adjustable to apply suitable tension at all portions of the curtains, the upper and lower portions of the curtains being temporarily secured together and having rigid means passing between thecurtains and exerting downward and upward pressure on the lower ends and upper ends of the curtains respectively, whereby the curtains are stretched to any desired shape or length and held in said stretched position tothereby accurately regulate the shape of the curtains after they have become dried.

Another object of this invention isto provide detachable means adapted to be associated with a window frame for stretching curtains, the means being adapted to be removed from the window frame'and stored in a small space after thestretching operation has been completed, as the improved stretching apparatus differs from structures heretofore devised in that the stretching means does notoutline a bulky and rigid frame necessitating large storage space. The detachable means are adapted to-be secured separately to the upper and lower portions'of the window frame and may be removed from the window frame and will occupy a very small amount of space in storage, thus presenting a decided advantage over curtain stretchers heretofore employed.

Some of the objects of the inventionhaving been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 1 is an elevation of my improved stretching apparatus with curtains thereon applied to a window frame;

Figure 2 is an'edge view looking towards the right hand side of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an elevation of one of the bars insertablebetween the upper and lower portions of a plurality of curtains;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the lower left-hand corner of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view thru one of the slidable cuffs mounted on the bars which pass between the curtains;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken thru the upper portion of the curtains and the bar supporting the same;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a portion of the lowerfastening: means;

Figure 8 isan edge view of the edge of Figure 7;

Figure 9-is a perspective view of a modified form of the means supporting the top of the curtains;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the detachable support insertable in the notches in the members associated with the upper portion of the window and adapted to be associated with the structure shown in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a detailshowing barb on members 19 and 20. A

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numerals 19 and 11 indicate the side portions of awindow frame having a bottom porticn 12; a ledge 13, and an upper portion 14 and usually a ledge of some type 15;

It is with a conventional window frame of various designs that my curtain stretching apparatus is adapted to be used; The curtain stretching apparatuscomprises apair of members or brackets 16-and 17, each bracket being notched as at 18 and each bracket having a pair of spaced members 19 and 20 secured to the upper ends of portions 16'or 1'7 as the case may be; These members 19 and-20 are pointed at their ends-and are adapted to engage either the portion 14 of the window frame or some suitable ledge 15, whereas, the lower end of members 16 and 17 are adapted to rest against the front faceof members 10 or 11. The notches 18 of members 16 and 17 are adapted to receive therein lip-'27 of cuffs 22 and 23 which are slidably mounted" on' a transverse bar 24 which is beveled as at 25 on its upper edge and has a grooved or sunken portion 26 on its side toallow better ventilation of the curtain supported thereby. Itwill be'seen in Figure 3 that transverse bars" 24 and 45'have a curved edge right-hand which engages the curtains. This gives a greater depth to the center of the bar than at the ends. This camber is provided to take care of the deflection in the bar when the curtains are stretched, thereby causing the sharpened edge to assume a horizontal position when tension is slight pull in the upper edge of the window frame. By this arrangement, it is possible to place the members 16 and 17 in position and exert a slight downward pull to embed prongs 19a and 20a in the upper edge of the window frame so that they will not slip out of place when cross bar 24 is being placed in position.

The cuffs 22 and 23 are better shown in Figure 5, wherein cuff 22 is shown in cross section, each cuff having a lip 27 which is adapted to engage the notches 18 in member 16 or 17 to support the transverse bar 24. The transverse bar 24 is adapted to be passed between a plurality of curtains 29 and 30 as in Figure 2, or three or more curtains 29, 30 and 31 as the case may be, the upper ends of the curtains having their ends basted together by basting stitches 34 for the stretchingoperation, preferably along the upper portion of rod receiving channels 33, (Fig. 6).

To the window ledge 13 is adapted to be secured a pair of clamping members 36 and 37, each having a member 38 with notches 39 therein on its outer edge. Each of the members 36 and 37 has a cut away portion surrounded by metallic ring like members 30 which project outwardly and upwardly as at 41 and has a point 42 thereon adapted to become embedded in lower surface of ledge 13. These members 40 are flared outwardly at 41 to prevent lateral movement of the members 36 and 37 when they are securedin position.

A suitable wedge 32 is provided which can be inserted above the ledge to close the space encircled by rings 40 to cause the attachment to fit any thickness of window sills within certain ranges. Also a wedge 43 is provided for inserting in the position shown. The method of attachment being to first place member 36 or 37 as the case may be in position with the sill 13 projecting into the notch encircled by rings 40 and then place wedge 42 in position. When wedge 43 is moved downwardly forcing the upper ends of members 36 or 37, as the case may be, away from portion 10 or 11, this causes the point 42 to be come embedded in the lower surface of sill 13.

The wedges 43 serve a two-fold purpose on account of the fact that a great many window sills 13 are found to be somewhat loose from wood shrinkage'and other causes and are, therefore, inclined to be moved upwardly under pressure in the stretching operation and possibly split under this pressure. Wedge 43 provides a heel which lessens this strain on the window sills. Also wedge 43 takes care of different thicknesses in window sills and provides means for perfect alignment of members 36 and 37.

A lower transverse bar 45 is provided identical in all respects to bar 24 except that it occupies an inverted position with its beveled edges being on the lower side thereof to engage the lower end of the curtains, which curtains are basted together as at 46. Slidablymounted on bar 45 are cuffs 47 and 48 identical to cuif 22, except that their lip portion 27 occupies an inverted position to the position of lip 27 on cuff 22 and is adapted to engage notches 39 in the notched members 38.

In Figures 9 and 10 a slightly modified form of the invention is shown in which, instead of having cuffs 22 and 23 for engaging the notches 13, a detachable member 50 is provided having a slot- 51 therein adapted to be inserted into the notches 18 and the tongue portions 53 and 54 fit against the sidewall portions of members 16 and 17 so that by adjusting these members 50 in position the upper bar 24 may be supported in this manner instead of by the cuffs 22 and 23.

It is thus seen that a plurality of curtains may be streched at the same time and the curtains may be stretched so as to conform to the-shape of the window. Often windows are not built at right angles and one side of the window will be longer than the other and in this manner the curtains can be stretched to conform to the shape of the window, because cuff 47 can be moved downwardly a notch or so without changing the position of cuff 43 and in this manner the curtains can be stretched more on one side than the other if desired to cause the curtains to be of proper shape. a

In stretching a plurality of curtains Whose length is slightly different from each other there would naturally be a tendency for'the curtains to slip-on the cross bars 24 and 45 but the sharp edges on these cross bars which engage the curtains prevent such slippage and thus all curtains are simultaneously stretched to the same length.

Another important feature is that of having 11 the sunken portions 26 on each'side of the bars 24 and 45 which allows ventilation of the cur tains and causes them to dry more quickly than if they were tightly pressed against a fiat sur-' face on the side of the bars. Also due to the thickness of the bars and the beveled edge, the curtains are not stretched with a bulged portion at the point of 'contact with the bars as they would be if a round bar or rod were inserted between the curtains.

Another important feature of this invention is that any child or maid can place the members 16 and- 17 in position and hang the bar24 thereon with the curtains supported thereby and can attach the members 36 and 37 to the sill 13' by the simple use of wedges and insert bar 45 thru the lower portion of the'curtains and adjust the position of the curtains requiring no skill and being a great improvement over structures heretofore used.

Another important feature of the invention is that the apparatus can be attached to a window frame without scratching or marring the same in any particular because the members 19 and 20 engage the upper edge of member 14 or'ledge 15 as the case may be which is unobservable to anyone in the room and the points 42 embed themselves in the lower surface of thewindow ledge 13 which also is hidden from View of anyone standing in the room. It is thus seen that the apparatus can be quickly installed on a window frame without injuring the same and can be as quickly detached and stored in a small space for further use. 1

By arranging the stretcher on a window frame it is possible to stretch the curtains without removing the window shades. Also the windows can be opened allowing circulation of air from the outside thru the curtains to equally dry the same. I

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Means for stretching household curtains and being adapted to be associated with a window frame and the like, comprising a pair of independent members having one portion provided with prongs adapted to be embedded in the upper edge of the frame and having another portion adapted to engage the upper front portion of the frame, said members having notches in their outer edges, a transversely disposed bar having means thereon for engaging said notches, the bar having its upper end sharpened and being adapted to be passed between a plurality of curtains having their upper ends secured together, a pair of independent clamping members having means for engaging the upper and lower surfaces of the lower end of the frame and having notches in their outer edges, a second transversely disposed bar having means thereon for engaging the notches in said clamping members, said second transversely disposed bar having its lower edge sharpened and being adapted to be passed between the lower portion of a plurality of curtains having their lower ends secured together, the ends of the bars being individually adjustable in said notches to impart any desired shape to the curtains.

2. Means for stretching household curtains and the like comprising a pair of independent notched members adapted to be held by pressure against the upper ends of a window frame and to be embedded therein, a lower pair of independent notched members having means for removably attaching the same to the lower portion of a window frame, a transverse bar having its upper edge sharpened adapted to be inserted between the upper ends of a plurality of curtains having their upper ends secured together, and means on the bar for engaging said first named notched members for supporting said bar, a second transverse bar having means thereon for engaging the said lower notched members, said second transverse bar having its lower edge sharpened and being adapted to be inserted between the lower ends of said curtains after the lower ends of said curtains are secured together.

3. Curtain stretching means comprising two pairs of separated and independent means having barbs engaging a suitable framework near its four corners, each of the separated means having a portion for engaging the front of said framework, a transverse bar for each of the pairs of separated means, each bar having its ends adjustably supported by a pair of said separated means, the said bars being adapted to be passed between a plurality of curtains having their ends secured together, and means on at least some of said separated means for adjusting the position of the ends of the bar for imparting proper tension to the curtains, the tension of the curtains serving to embed the barbs in the framework.

4. Means for stretching window curtains comprising a pair of notched supporting members removably secured to the upper portion of a window frame each supporting member having a barb for engaging the upper edge of the window frame, and each supporting member also having a portion engaging the front of the window frame, a pair of notched members removably secured to the lower portion of a window frame and having barbs thereon, a pair of transverse bars insertable between the upper and lower portions of a pair of curtains having their upper and lower ends secured together, means for adjusting the position of said bars with relation to said notched members, the tension of the curtains serving to embed the barbs in the window frame.

5. Curtain stretching means comprising separated members attachable to the four corners of a window frame and having barbs thereon, a pair of bars supported by pairs of said members, the bars being adapted to support the ends of a plurality of curtains having their ends secured together, means for adjusting the ends of said bars on said members the tension of the curtain serving to embed the barbs in the window frame, each of the separated members having a portion for engaging the front of the window frame to cause the tension of the curtain to embed the barbs in the upper and lower edges of the window frame.

6. Means for stretching window curtains comprising notched members and means for attaching said notched members to the upper and lower portions of a window frame, rigid means having their upper and lower edges which engage the curtains, sharpened and supported by the notched members and engaging the upper and lower ends of the curtains for imparting tension to the curtains, each of said notched members having a barb thereon for penetrating the window frame under tension of the curtains.

7. Curtain stretching means having in combination, a window frame having upper and lower projecting ledges, a pair of notched members having pointed portions adapted to rest on the upper edge of said upper ledge and to be embedded therein, a transversely disposed member having a sharp upper edge and being insertable through the upper ends of a plurality of curtains secured together, a pair of notched members having a cavity therein insertable over the lower ledge of the window frame and having barbs thereon adapted to become embedded in the lower surface of the lower ledge under tension of the curtains, a transverse lower member having a sharp lower edge and being insertable through the lower portion of the curtains, and

means on the bars engaging said notched members for independently adjusting the ends of said bars on said notched members.

8. Curtain stretching apparatus comprising a pair of hooked members for engagement with the upper edge of a window frame and having notches along their outer edges, a pair of hooked members for engagement with the lower edge of a window frame and having notches along their outer edges, upper and lower bars having sliding means thereon for engagement with said notches said upper and lower bars being insortable through window curtains and the like and the tension of the curtains serving to embed said hooked members in the upper and lower ledges of the window frame.

JOHN M. GLADISH. 

